Patient positioning device

Abstract

The invention relates to a patient-positioning device for positioning a patient in an irradiation position in a radiation therapy arrangement, in particular in a particle radiation therapy arrangement comprising a patient supporting module, which is provided with a patient supporting device for holding the patient in a body holder where the irradiation is to be carried out, wherein, said patient supporting device is mounted on a base unit in such a way that it is rotatable about an axis by means of a bearing, said base unit is provided with a coupling element, the inventive device is also provided with a positioning arm, which comprises several joints and a coupling point for coupling the coupling element and for freely positioning the patient in any predefined irradiation position by adjusting the angle of rotation of the patient supporting module.

Description

[0001]The present patent document is a 35 U.S.C. §371 application of PCT Application Serial Number PCT / EP2006 / 065674, filed Aug. 25, 2006, designating the United States, which is hereby incorporated by reference. This patent document also claims the benefit of German patent application DE 10 2005 041 606.3, filed Sep. 1, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]The present embodiments relate to a patient positioning device for positioning a patient in an irradiation position for a radiation therapy system, in particular a particle beam therapy system.[0003]In radiation therapy, it is of particular importance to be able to position the patient with high precision in an irradiation position for the radiation treatment. To enable selecting the angle of incidence of the radiation as freely as possible in planning the therapy, a patient positioning device should assure the applicable freedoms for orienting the patient in his posture for the radiation treatment.[000...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]A patient positioning device may be used flexibly and assure freedom in orienting the patient relative to a treatment beam.

[0006]One embodiment of the patient positioning device, for example, includes a patient supporting module with a patient supporting device for keeping the patient in a posture intended in the radiation treatment planning. The patient supporting device is mounted rotatably about an axis above a bearing at a base unit of the patient supporting module. The base unit has a coupling element, with which the patient supporting module can be coupled to a device having a positioning arm. The positioning arm of the patient positioning device has a plurality of joints and a coupling point for coupling the coupling element of the patient supporting module. The rotary motion of the patient supporting device and the free mobility of the positioning arm allow free positioning of the patient in an arbitrarily predeterminable irradiation position.

Problems solved by technology

Because of the geometry of the patient and the usual robot mechanism, for instance, it is not readily possible for a robot drive to dock with the therapy chair from below.

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